Preamps built Into DACs


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A lot of higher end preamps are also DACs. A lot of guys that buy these high end DACs already have a high-end preamp.

How much money could be saved on a $6k preamp/DAC if the preamp section was removed? In my case, a preamp on a DAC is redundant. I believe the preamp section should be an option on a DAC.

What say you?
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mitch4t
Ed - I think this is possible. I have some old tracks that recently I noticed new lyrics and background singers that I never heard before. The challenge will be to distinguish the lyrics and understand them.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Understanding lyrics is a particular type of human skill. Some people are just better at it than others. Seems like an extremely poor way of testing how resolving a system is.
Agree. Only works with the same observer listening on two different systems. Even then I think the experiment is flawed because you could have a system that simply is more clear in the frequency range of human voice, which could be happen with boor bass response. for example on a set of electrostats with poor low frequency response this may be easier than on a true full range system.

Nonetheless, just for kicks, I'd be happy to try. If you set up a file transfer (you have my email), I'll give it a shot. Keep in mind I am not a native English speaker though!